SUSTAINABILITY Class 6: Individualization and Fulfillment POLI 294 P. Brian Fisher.

SUSTAINABILITYClass 6: Individualization and FulfillmentPOLI 294P. Brian Fisher

Last Class and Agenda

Last Class: US Public Op on Environ & Individualization

Today:

Quick orientation to global trends Word clouds Comparison Fulfillment Survey Happiness/Fulfillment

3 Massive Historical Changes

Social Triumph at a Price:

Economic Growth Population Growth Massive Increase in

Energy Use (primarily driven by fossil fuels)

3 Marked Results from 20th Century

1. Econ Growth: Exponential increased economic growth & living stnds (because of ↑ pop, ↑ tech)

2. Environmental Harm: Increases in widespread environmental degradation (from burning of fossil fuels for energy consumption & waste)

3. Inequality: Modern expansion, while liberating to many, brought severe inequality

+Sachs, Common Wealth, pp. 17-31

1. Economic Convergence: per capita income in poor countries will continue to converge with rich

World Economy will be MUCH bigger by 2050 Avg income for developing countries will be ~$40k, which is the avg income for US in

2005, while in US it will be ~$90k.

2. More People, but higher incomes for more people ** Must stabilize population at 8b; then econ growth can be positive if we can

manage environmental side effects.

3. Asian Century: Historic shift in the economic gravity of World4. Urban Century: Continuing urbanizing trends

Means that cities have tremendous potential, but also will be sites for major destruction: pollution, disasters, and disease with higher density

5. Poverty Trap: Poorest billion are not achieving econ growth, which is dangerous:

1. Death from starvation2. Lack basic needs (food, water, nourishment, shelter)3. Lack political and economic stability4. Most population growth5. Most enviro destructive6. Most potential for conflict7. Cycle is self reinforcing, not self-correcting requires global policies and funding

6 Trends that will Shape the 21st Century

+Sachs, Common Wealth, pp. 17-31

6. Environmental Challenges: Rapid econ growth (in a linear system) means unprecedented enviro destruction; climate change will intensify many of the challenges

I = P*A*T (IPAT equation) By 2050:

P = increase 40% (1.4 fold increase) A = increase 4 fold P * A = 6 fold increase I (env harm) = 6 times more destruction, if T is constant Technology works both ways: can protect or destroy

If world is already unsustainable, what will a 6 fold increase in the

destruction do? Based on this equation, two things must happen if we agree A is

necessary, reduce P (population) and make technology sustainable

Environmental Challenges in the 21st Century

Education & Sustainability

http://www.youtube.com/embed/zDZFcDGpL4U

POLI 294 Word Cloud

Comparing Word Clouds

Word Cloud – Survey April 2012

Word Cloud – POLI 294 Aug 2012

Comparing General Campus

Word Cloud – General Campus

Sept 2011Word Cloud – POLI 294

Can $$ buy Happiness (Sci Am)

American families who make over $300,000 a year donate to charity a mere 4% of their incomes.

People who had won between $50k & $1mil (in 1970s dollars) were less impressed by life’s simple pleasures than people who experienced no such windfall.

although wealth may grant us opportunities to purchase many things, it simultaneously impairs our ability to enjoy those things.

Argument: “having money raises our aspirations about the happiness that we expect in our daily lives, and these raised aspirations can be toxic…Unfortunately, raised aspirations don’t only lead us to take things for granted and impair our savoring abilities. They steer us to consume too much, tax the planet's resources, overspend and undersave, go into debt, gamble, live beyond our means, and purchase mortgages that we can’t afford.

Ways to be happy from $$

Spend on 1. activities that help us grow as a person (guitar lessons),

strengthen our connections with others (dinners with colleagues, car trips with friends), and contribute to our communities (catering a fundraiser, donating to the needy)

2. activities and experiences (e.g., rock climbing expeditions, wine tasting family reunions) rather than material possessions

3. many small pleasures (e.g., regular massages, weekly delivery of fresh flowers) rather than on one big-ticket item (like a new car or flat-screen TV); and

4. something that we work extremely hard to get and have to wait for (whether it’s a concert, trip, or gadget) and relish the feeling of hard-won accomplishment and anticipation

Happiness/Income (US) 1956-1998